Wyoming Forms Committee to Push Online Casino Legalization

A New Crew for Gambling Talks

Wyoming’s taking another swing at online casino gambling with a freshly minted legislative committee, formed after five gambling bills, including one for online casinos, fizzled out in the 2025 session.

The select committee, led by Sen. John Kolb and Rep. Jayme Lien, includes three House and three Senate members tasked with sorting out the state’s gambling future.

“There’s no parent committee for gambling,” Kolb said, explaining the need for a dedicated group to handle the messy web of state gambling laws and explore expansion, like online casinos.

The move follows a 2024 push by the Joint Appropriations Committee, which teamed up with Spectrum Gaming Group to study the industry and back bills like House Bill 162 for online casinos.

Those efforts tanked amid worries about hurting tribal casino revenues and fueling gambling addiction. With no gambling bills passing in 2025, the new committee’s stepping in to keep the conversation alive and pave the way for future wins.

Big Money on the Table

Wyoming’s already cashing in on online sports betting, legalized in 2021, with over $629 million in wagers, $65 million in revenue, and $3.8 million in taxes. Online casinos could be an even bigger prize.

A Spectrum Gaming Group report pegs potential annual operator revenues at $200 million, tossing $40 million in tax dollars to the state. That’s a solid chunk of change for a state looking to beef up its budget, especially when sports betting’s already proved the digital model works.

The committee’s got a full plate, from untangling Wyoming’s scattered gambling laws to streamlining licensing and revenue flows. They’re also eyeing more state cash for mental health programs to tackle gambling addiction, a nod to concerns raised during 2025 debates.

Why It Matters

Online casino legalization’s a tough sell in Wyoming, where tribal casinos hold sway and responsible gambling’s a hot topic. The 2025 session showed lawmakers aren’t ready to dive in, but the new committee signals they’re not giving up.

Unlike sports betting, which sailed through, online casinos stir fears of cannibalizing tribal profits or hooking players. The committee’s job is to find a balance, maybe by tweaking tax rates or adding strict player protections to ease those worries.

Other states’ failures to pass iGaming bills in 2025 show Wyoming’s not alone in its caution, but the revenue potential’s hard to ignore. A focused committee could finally crack the code, especially with Spectrum’s data backing the economic upside. Plus, Wyoming’s small population means less market saturation, making it a juicy target for operators if rules loosen up.